2. THE CONQUISTADORS
Main Idea: The Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire had a lasting effect on the
native populations of Mexico.
After Columbus´s voyages, Spain seized control of many islands in the
Caribbean in the early 1500s. Spanish explorers continued to look for new
lands.
Late in 1518, Hernán Cortés landed in Mexico with a force of about 500
soldiers. He was determinated to conquer more of america, he started with the
Aztecs people.
The Aztec ruler, Montezuma, welcomed Cortés and his men to Mexico’s
capital, Tenochtitlán. Cortés had killed Montezuma and captured the city. He
ordered the city burned and built a new capital (Mexico City).
Spanish had guns, swords, and armor, all supeior to Aztecs’ weapons. The
Spanish also used horses and dogs in battle. The Aztecs were slow to act at first
because they believed Cortés was a god. When their leader, Montezuma, was
killed by Cortés in 1520, the Aztec armies fell apart in confusión.
3. HOMEWORK
1.Look for a picture of Hernan
Cortes and Montezuma and
Paste them into your notebook.
